Participation in the federal Community Eligibility Provision—which allows schools to serve free meals to all students regardless of income—rose by 20 percent this year, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
Vilsack made the announcement before members of the American Academy of Pediatrics Monday in Washington, adding that more than 17,000 high-poverty schools now offer free federally subsidized meals to about 8 million students through the provision, which is in its second year of being available nationwide.
"Thanks to the improvements we have made in school nutrition, our nation's children show up each day to healthier school environments, where they can easily get the nutrients they need for academic success and healthier futures,” Vilsack said in a statement.
He also called on congress to “move quickly” and reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act.
“[Give] these men and women predictability in the work they are doing, and most importantly so that we do not reverse the progress made to date in improving the health and future well-being of America's children," he said.